These No-Bake Oatmeal Balls are an easy, healthy, gluten-free treat made with oats, raisins, dates, cinnamon, and nuts.
Reminiscent of an Oatmeal Raisin Cookie, these oatmeal energy balls are a faster and healthier way to satisfy your cookie craving.
Oatmeal Energy Balls are packed with fiber, nutrients, healthy fats, and a bit of protein--no added sugars, no processed fat! Like a guilt-free oatmeal cookie!
They are made with wholesome ingredients, easy to throw together, and sweet enough to satisfy your sweet tooth without a sugar crash.
Like Homemade Larabars, these Oatmeal Balls make a portable snack or a perfect sweet bite to finish a meal.
Ingredients Needed
While the options for oatmeal balls are endless, this variety is made with the addition of cinnamon and raisins to mimic the flavor in an Oatmeal Raisin Cookie.
- Dates: Be sure to use whole pitted dates, not chopped dates as they are typically coated in sugar.
- Nuts: Be sure your nuts are unsalted and dry roasted. If using raw nuts, toast them lightly before preparing these oatmeal balls. I use a mixture of almonds and walnuts for the best texture and flavor, but feel free to use all almonds or all walnuts.
- Oats: Use either old-fashioned oats or quick-cooking oats for these oatmeal balls, but be sure the oats are gluten-free to keep these oatmeal balls gluten-free.
Step-By-Step Directions
- Place the dates in a large heat-safe bowl and cover with boiling water and allow to soak for 5-10 minutes to soften the dates.
- Drain off the dates and place them into the food processor. Add the oats, cinnamon, raisins, walnuts, and almonds into the food processor.
- Pulse the mixture until the nuts and dates are broken down into small pieces and everything is well incorporated. Don't overprocess or the energy balls will lose all their texture.
- With moistened hands, roll out a tablespoon of the mixture into a ball.
- Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for 10 minutes to harden up slightly.
Mix-In Options
While the flavor in these Oatmeal Raisin Balls is delicious, feel free to play around with adding in additional ingredients for nutrients or flavor.
- Chocolate Chips: After pulsing together the dates, raisins, oats, and nuts, stir in up to â…“ cup of mini chocolate chips.
- Flaxseed: Add 1-2 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds to the food mixture before processing, for added fiber and healthy fats.
- Wheatgerm: For added protein and fiber, add 1-2 tablespoons of wheatgerm to the food mixture before processing.
- Nuts: Use pecans instead of walnuts. Or use all almonds and omit the walnuts entirely. Any combination of nuts works as long as you use a total of ¾ cup.
- Dried Cranberries: Instead of raisins use dried cranberries for a pop of tart flavor.
Recipe Notes
- Storage: Store leftover oatmeal balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. I don't recommend freezing due to the dates.
- Raisins: If your raisins happen to be dried out or not very plump, soak them in hot water as you do the dates.
- Toasting Nuts: If you are using raw nuts, spread them out onto a sheet pan and bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes or place them in a single layer in a skillet and heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 3-5 minutes, or until golden and begin to smell nutty. This is an important step to really developing the flavor in the nuts and will allow your oatmeal balls to have the best flavor.
More Wholesome Snack Recipes
If you enjoyed these simple Oatmeal Energy Balls, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.
No-Bake Oatmeal Balls
Ingredients
- ½ cup pitted dates
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ cup oats
- ¼ cup almonds
- ½ cup walnuts
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon reserved liquid
Instructions
- Soak the dates in boiling warm water for 10 minutes. Drain the dates, reserving the liquid, and place the dates into a food processor that has been fitted with an s-blade.
- Add the raisins, oats, almonds, walnuts, and cinnamon and pulse until the mixture just comes together, adding in up to 1 tablespoon of the date soaking liquid to the mixture if needed.
- With dampened hands, roll 1 tablespoon of mixture together to form a ball.
- Let harden in the fridge for at least 10 minutes
- Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
Equipment Needed
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published in 2015 but was updated in 2021 with new pictures and tips.
Colleen
These look like they would be perfect for breakfast!!!
Kristen Chidsey
I sure think they would be too! 🙂
Megan @ MegUnprocessed.com
These sound so yummy! Love no-bake treats 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
No bakes are the best!
Allison - Celebrating Sweets
These look so scrumptious! I bet I could eat that whole bowl!
Kristen Chidsey
It is hard not to--trust me!!
aimee @ like mother like daughter
These bites look seriously good! I love oatmeal raisin cookies, so I love that these are sugar free!
Kristen Chidsey
These are sure to be your new fav!!
Sylvie
Such a great idea! The frosting is the perfect finishing touch.
Kristen Chidsey
I agree Sylvie 🙂
Denise Wright
Those look delicious! I love that they are so healthy.
Kristen Chidsey
Healthy indeed
Sarah @ BucketListTummy
Yum, these look sooo delicious! It was so wonderful to meet you last night 🙂 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
Sarah, it was great meeting you as well.
Johnna
So excited to make these! I love that they are sweetened with dates.
Kristen Chidsey
A guilt free treat.
Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table
This is definitely my kind of cookie! I love that it's natural and so much healthier - and that maple icing is such a great idea 🙂 My little ones are all about little cookie balls like this so we will have to whip these up soon! Yummed and pinned!
P.S. I love loving on our teachers too - they deserve ALL the pampering and delicious treats for the hard work they do!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Kathryn. I bet your kiddos will devour these.
Sarah
I'm sure Layla felt a little better having these cookie bites to cheer her up with her fever. They look/sound soooo good - love it!
Kristen Chidsey
I think it did help her Sarah:)
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction
I'd love to snack on these! Great idea to use the water from soaking the dates in the glaze!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Jessica!
Melissa Bailey
I love the work teachers do too. They are amazing and it is important we appreciate them. Thanks for the idea!
Kristen Chidsey
You bet Melissa and I totally agree with you!
Marshie Boswell
My husband is absolutely obsessed with oatmeal raisin cookies! Going to have to make these for him!
Kristen Chidsey
Yes you do Marshie!!
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan
If I made these for my daughter's teacher, she wouldn't get them either - and it wouldn't have anything to do with either of us being sick - gosh Kristen, these are just so darn good - love the dates/raisins/oats/nuts combo! And ooh t6hat cream cheese frosting is just out of this world!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks friend!
Maria
These little bites look SOOO good! 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Maria!
Lauren Gaskill | Making Life Sweet
I think it is so sweet that you made these after Layla's teacher's love of Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. They look absolutely amazing, sweet friend!! <3 <3 <3 Making these soon for sure (but I know they will be gone in less than a day!).
Kristen Chidsey
Enjoy every bite Lauren!!